Silva says Everton pair part of his plans

Glad to see the Everton manager sticking to his guns regarding the futures of two fan-favourites.

The narrative ever since Ademola Lookman came back from his loan spell at RB Leipzig was that the German club wanted him back badly and the player didn’t mind going back either. For Oumar Niasse, it’s been a battle ever since he got off the plane from Russia and came to the Blues. The striker has overcome all odds and his genial yet hardworking persona has rubbed off on the supporters who quite appreciate him now.

For Lookman in particular, Leipzig have been relentlessly coming in with slightly incremental bids. Silva, speaking to the Echo, confirmed what all fans wanted to hear, especially after he didn’t feature in the friendly against Bury.

“It is not the most important what I talk with my players and what they talk with me as well.

“The most important thing is Lookman is our player, he is an Everton player and I want Lookman to stay in our squad.”

The 20-year-old had picked up a knock against Austrian side ATV Irdning on Saturday and Silva didn’t want to risk him with back-to-back games coming up.

“I’m pleased with the way he is working and I am sure – I am sure – he will improve more and more and more.

“He is our player, I am happy with his behaviour, how he is in training and I am sure about his skills and his ability and I am sure he will improve more.”

There have been some links for loan deals to Turkish sides for Niasse, but Silva quashed that talk too in comments to the Echo.

“Of course, Oumar Niasse is in our plans. I understand the question as well, we need to understand his football. He is a player who can give different things than the other players we have in this position.

“He is different than all the others when you look at Cenk Tosun and at the other boy Dominic Calvert-Lewin – Oumar Niasse is completely different and in some moments, like this evening in the second-half, or when he starts games, he will give different things to the others.

“It is a matter of my decision, in the right moments of the game.”

With only limited game minutes to go around, unless Dominic Calvert-Lewin gets loaned out it’s very unlikely that the Blues will add an out-and-out striker at this point.